New Japan Pro Wrestling is returning to English-language television.
During tonight’s Wrestle Kingdom 15, a commercial ran announcing they would be on television in the United States and United Kingdom “soon.”
Dave Meltzer confirmed on Sunday that the promotion is very close to an English-language television deal. The deal is close enough that an announcement could come at any time.
NJPW previously had a television deal with AXS TV, which aired NJPW content from 2014 to 2019. The relationship ended after AXS TV was purchased by Anthem Sports and Entertainment, which owns Impact Wrestling. The promotion later confirmed at the end of 2019 that no more shows were scheduled to broadcast on US television in 2020. Women of Wrestling, another promotion that aired on AXS prior to Anthem’s purchase, was cancelled back in June.
Shortly before NJPW’s association with AXS ended, the promotion launched a new subsidiary called NJPW of America. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, NJPW has continued to run shows in the US with a weekly program called Strong that airs on New Japan World.